No, it's a she and you know how females evaluate the running condition of a car. Starts? SEE YA!!
Optispark test?
- Thread starter Bonnewagon
- Start date
- Status
Yeah, she's good. She just had some shitty headers removed and a new system put in, as well as a trans last summer. Of course trying to explain that drag racing is hard on parts just goes in one ear and out the other, but kids will be kids. I actually wouldn't trust a shop to work on this Optispark, most don't even know what it is.
Well, I finally got a chance to work on her car. The starter exploded so suddenly it was OK to park it and let Dad get to work. I'm 57 and I thought I had done every bitchy job but this one takes the cake. I started Friday afternoon and I just finished today Monday evening except for the starter I'm waiting on, another b*tch of a job. I guess GM thought this motor was immortal and would never require service. First off I opened the case and removed the rotor screws and replaced them with a dab of red Locktight so they won't come loose. Then I sealed the distributor case with marine sealer so nothing can get in to contaminate the innards. I also added a plastic tube to the new water pump weep hole so if it ever leaks it will pass around the distributor. New spark plug wires went in and the one thing I kept saying was "They have GOT to be F-ing kidding!!" I'm actually glad the starter was out so I could get at the #6 and #8 plugs. I pulled the radiator and fans for working room and that helped a lot. Of course the power steering pump had stripped bolts so I had to Marine-Tex them in to the aluminum bracket because there was no way to use larger bolts without drilling the pump holes out too. I was able to test the new Optispark by hooking up the harness to the car and spinning the bearing on the back and pulling the injector fuses so they couldn't fire. The new Delphi sparked and did not set a code while the MSD immediatly set a code 36 which the book says is a high-resolution sensor failure. The computer threw codes for every sensor I had disconnected so I am confident it is working properly. I still need to add coolant and I'm waiting on a starter. Local wanted $150 for a rebuilt and RockAuto had a new one for $100 so I'll have a few beers with the $50 while I'm waiting for it to arrive. All this work and these have a track record of crapping again out shortly afterwards so if it does I will personally set this damn car on fire and toast hot dogs on it. Anybody planning on using this type motor in a project I would advise to research alternative ignition systems like the Northstar.
congrats that you have the patience to get the job done and I'm glad to hear that it worked out ok. If your daughter is not dating anyone you should introduce her to some guys who love to work on cars so the next time you can just concentrate on handing them tools while you down a few beers.. 8)
Thank's but it isn't running yet I still need a starter. And yeah she has a lot of friends that work on cars and one actually did this job for her by putting the MSD on ( Now THAT'S a KEEPER!) and he took 2 weeks. This job scared off everyone else :shock:
MSD + anything including Optispark = A Failure. They cause more problems then they solve ,Especially the early MSD units. The weep hole drain tube is a good tip.So is lock tight on the rotor screws.
I have taken A lot of MSD systems off cars and trucks and Thrown them in the trash. That solved more drive-ability problems than I can remember.
Most of the time you have to remove the MSD and restore the system to the original condition to solve the true problem. And I have been doing this over Thirty years. Good luck . 8)
I have taken A lot of MSD systems off cars and trucks and Thrown them in the trash. That solved more drive-ability problems than I can remember.
Most of the time you have to remove the MSD and restore the system to the original condition to solve the true problem. And I have been doing this over Thirty years. Good luck . 8)
tc...I have an MSD E-curve distributor that's made in the US and it works really well but kinda pricey....I do agree with you on most of their products since they are made in china....
TC1959- What's odd is that the MSD looked like a solidly built unit. It even has 2 seperate sensors for high and low resolution signals. The rotor bearing felt smooth and clearances were spot on. However when I applied vacuum to the vent I heard air leaks all around the lip of the cap.I can only assume the cap leaked outside fumes into the housing and it affected the optical ensor. Or it's just fancy looking crap. Quick question. Even with the camshaft pin indexed properly into the distributor bearing, the dist housing didn't sit flush to the timing cover. Not a lot, maybe 1/16", like something was not fitting right. I put a dab of grease on the pin and it did not bottom in the hole on the bearing, so that's not what it was. The MSD fit flush. Any ideas?
I dont think all of the OE ones fit flush. AC Delco and Later Delphi buy all this stuff from different vendors.. as long as the meet design specs + or _ a few... they pass QC tests on one out of every 500 units ,they box it and sell it with the Delco / Delphi, name behind it. It just seems that over time the guys that designed the system seem to market the parts that work. And in a pro shop setting you lose money if the parts you buy screw up. cause you don't get paid to do it twice.Bonnewagon said:
( personally I think optispark looked a lot better on paper than it ever worked in the real world )
Watch any nascar race the have Two MSD units on the dash The driver can switch while driving. because they are not Reliable...
- Status
Similar threads
